z:\ ambedkar\vol 011\vol11 04.indd MK SJ+YS 5 10 2013/YS 18 11 2013 256
256 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
§ 3. Dhamma Based on Union with Brahma is a False Dhamma
III
When the Buddha was preaching his religion there was current a doctrine called Vedantism.
The tenets of this doctrine are few and simple.
Behind the universe there is omnipresent a common principle of life called Brahma or Brahman.
This Brahma is a reality.
The Atman or the individual soul is the same as Brahma.
Man’s liberation lies in making Atman to be one with Brahma. This is the second principle.
This unity with Brahma the Atman can achieve by realising that it is the same as Brahman.
And the way to make the Atman realize that it is the same as Brahman is to give up Sansara.
This doctrine is called Vedantism.
The Buddha had no respect for the doctrine. He regarded it as based on false premises and producing nothing of value and, therefore, not worth having.
This he made clear in his discussion with two Brahmins, Bharadvaj and Vasettha.
The Buddha argued that there must be proof before one can accept a thing to be a reality.
There are two modes of proof, perception and inference.
The Buddha asked, “Has anybody perceived Brahma ; have you seen Brahma ; have you spoken to Brahma ; have you smelt Brahma ? ”
Vasettha said, “No.
“The other mode of proof is inadequate to prove the existence of Brahma.”
“From what is Brahma the inference of ?” asked the Buddha. There again was no answer.
There are others who argue that a thing exists although it is invisible. So they say that Brahma exists although it is invisible.
In this bald statement it is an impossible position.